By Sudath Gunasekara BA (Hons) Ph.D. (SLAS. Class 1
3.11.2003.
This proposal covers the whole of original Meemure Vasama that included the Meemure village and few other hamlets of Gandeka Korale of Uda Dumbara in the Kandy district. It comprises the entire area north of Koratuwemunduna (Corbets Gap) surrounded by the Dotalugala-Dumbanagala-Kehelpathdoruwegala-Telambugala ridge in the South and East, Dotalugala-Paskulupav (Knuckles)-Kalupahana on the West and Kalupahana-Katakitula-Lakegala-Demalagala range in the North covering an area of about 35 sq miles.
Meemure was a separate Rata during the Kandyan period and Megastenne Adikarama, the last Prime Minister of the Kandyan Kingdom himself was the Ratemahattaya of Meemure Rata. This perhaps indicates the importance of this village during the period of the Kandyan Kingdom. Its ancient history goes back to prehistory and the legendary Lankanagara of Mahawamsa and Lankapura of Ravana is associated with this village and the resplendent giant Lakegala or Lanka pabbata rising up to the heavens behind the village. Lakegala an exceptional world wonder nature has gifted to Sri Lanka is acclaimed as the biggest bare rock outcrop in the world.
The Geographical Setting
Geographically it is a mountainous area with towering and precipitous mountaintops clad with wet montane type of vegetation and narrow valleys with very little flat lands, displaying climatic extremes from west to east. In terms of longitude and latitude it is roughly located between 80.48-80.53 E and 7.22-7.28 N and covers an area of approximately about thirty-five square miles of which over 98 % is still under forest.
The landscape descends from 6112 feet Paskulupav (Knuckles) at the western end to almost 500 feet above mean sea level at Kahatagahawela in the northeast. It measures approximately seven miles from south to north and six miles from west to east. The Maha Oya Heenganga valley at the centre and the encircling mountain ring on the east, south, west and the north, dominates the entire landscape of the area. It is drained by Karambaketiya Oya, Maha Oya, Heenganga, Meemure Oya and Ravana Ela on the left bank and Na Ela and Kekelewatta Oya on the right bank. Of these only the three left bank tributaries of Karambaketiya, Maha Oya and Heenganga are perennial. The landscape exhibits a steep drop from west to east and displays a colossal amphitheatre with three incised mini amphitheatres representing the Karambaketiya, Heenganga and Meemure Oya valleys. The elevated St Martin-Na Ela saddle on the right bank is also noteworthy in this regard.
The area gets its rain from the northeast monsoon from October to March. The rest of the year is dry. A special feature of the dry period is the dry wind (mudusulang) that devastates this area from April to August. These wuthering winds sweep across the valley drying up everything that comes within its grip. The rainfall increases as we come to the south. Thus the annual rainfall at St Martin estate is as 170” whereas at Meemure it is even less than 100”. Temperature ranges are equally impressive. When mean temperature at Meemure village is around 90-95 F, but readings at Kalupana or the Corbett’s Gap are often around 60-65 F. The month of Ill (Nov.15 to Dec 15) is the rainiest month in this region
Modern geographers have named this region as the Nitre Cave District after the famous Nitre Cave found on the western slopes of the eastern ranges. John Davy1 who visited this cave in 1821 has given a fascinating account of this cave. According to him it is the biggest Nitre cave in Sri Lanka. A northward view from Koratuwe muduna (Corbet’s Gap) on a clear day affords a unique scenic splendour one may not see any where in the world. Lazarus calls these mountain ranges Ceylon’s Elegant Mountains”
At present Meemure comprises of five Grama Sevaka Divisions. They are Meemure, Kumbukgolla, Kaikawala, Pusse Ela and Karambaketiya. Total population is 1614, Meemure with the highest, 472. The approximate area of this region is about 40 sq miles of which only 473.3* acres come under paddy (1.5%). Paddy cultivation is the only noteworthy economic activity. Hena cultivation which occupied the second most important place in the village economy is no more there now due to banning by government. This decision has badly crippled the village economy and brought about many a hardship to these villagers. Area presently under homesteads and sporadic Cardamom cultivations is negligible. This means 98.5 % of the area is still under forest. Leaving a margin for reserved forests, patan, steep mountains, stream reservations and rock outcrops, still there would be a very large extent of arable land available for agricultural pursuits. This provides a rough clue to the development potentials of the region.
The three main constraints of development in this region are
1.Lack of proper roads
2.Inadequate water and other infra structure facilities
3.Neglect and lack of commitment by all governments
I give below an outline of an updated development plan proposed for the region, which I have conceived way back in late 1960s when I was working as the Divisional Revenue Officer of Udadumbara (2nd.June.1966 to 1st.April. 1971).
The Proposed Plan
This is only an outline. Therefore it needs to be studied in details as to its feasibility and cost estimates etc before it is implemented.
1 Roads
The present road has to be improved beyond Dambada as priority no.1. The entire section has been haphazardly and unscientifically done in the past using the ancient footpath without doing an engineering survey. The repairs and successive constructions have only fattened the contractors. If someone can at least do the drain and repair the damaged sections immediately, the existing road could be made usable until a better one is constructed.
New Proposals
1.Improve Rangala- Ferndale-Corbett’s Gap road. This was constructed by the British planters in 1880s as an access road to their plantations in St Martin. Engineering wise it is the best access road to Meemure and also shorter than via Hunnasgiriya by 3 miles.
2.Attend to repairs of Hunnasgiriya-Loolwatta-Corbett’s Gap section as a supplementary road
3 Re-do the present Corbett’s Gap Meemure Meegahamula road
4 Extend present road from Karambaketiya via St Martin’s –Welgala, Kekalewatta to Totillagasyaya Minipe stage 11 or Nugagolla through Hulugune, Minipe stage 111.
a) A new deviation to the right from this road through Galamuduna-Pallegaladebokka-Udattawa to Udawela is also suggested.
b) Link up the Meemure-Hettipola road with the St Martin-Totillagasyaya road at Kekalewatta by a bridge across Heenganga at Kekalewatta.
c) Link up present Damboda Meemure road with the left bank road with a bridge across Mahaoya near Martinwatta.
An engineering survey of the entire length from Damboda to Meemure village proper should be done as a first step prior to undertaking any improvements to the existing road. This could be done on a contour using the present road as the base line.
Irrigation
- Effect necessary repairs to the Maha Oya- Heenganga canal and extend it up to Meemure Oya
(This is operating very much below capacity at present due to bad maintenance)
b) Construct the following new reservoirs.
1) Maha Oya above Tarrifa -2500 ft msl
2) Heenganga above Kaikawala-2000 ft msl
Both these will augment the present Maha Oya-Heenganga supply)
3) On Meemure Oya at Dalukgolla 1500 ft msl. (priority one)
4) Meemure at Wekade at 1400 ft msl and Wewatenna (Both
these sites are ancient village tanks ).
5) Heenganga-Maha Oya confluence just below Kaikawala at 1200 ft msl
6) Na- Ela at 1700 ft msl south of Nitre Cave.
All these are new reservoirs. They will not only augment the present supplies but they will also bring large extents of new land under the plough. The Yala extent will also increase appreciably.
Kalupahana- Meemure Trans-basin canal
Under this proposal it is proposed to build a transbasin canal to divert the waters of Naranatta Oya (A tributary of Kaluganga) to the Meemure Oya. (Dimbigolle Oya). This is to be constructed at an elevation of 4000 ft msl, carrying the waters of six tributaries to its destination. The approximate length of the canal is about 4 miles. This new supply will make Meemure Oya perennial and provide enough water to fill the proposed Dalukgolla reservoir on the Meemure Oya to enhance its irrigation and hydro-electricity generation potentialities. It could even enable the entire paddy acreage in Meemure to be cultivated for both seasons, which will revolutionize the present income levels. Linking up Wekade with Dalukgolla reservoir also should be explored under this work.
Since the Kuda Oya and Walpolamulla Oya (Both LB tributaries of Kaluganga) provide enough supplies, no threat is expected to the Kaluganga present supply. Further, constructing a reservoir just below Walpolamulla Oya –Kaluganga confluence, could increase the downstream Kaluganga supply. This will enhance the acreage cultivated in downstream areas like Batadanduwala, Rambukkoluwa and Gangahenwala. Therefore diversion of part of head waters of Naranatta Oya to Meemure Oya will not create any water problems to the Kaluganga downstream area.
At present Meemure village proper has a total of 70.57 ha of paddy of which only 13.7 ha are cultivated for yala season due to lack of water. The proposed Dalukgolla reservoir with the Kalupana augmentation could store sufficient water even to double the present total acreage for both seasons. New areas could be brought under the plough under the following canals. a) Dalukgolla-Udakumbura Ela; b)Dalukgolla-Moragolla-Bathalahenpitiya-Wekade Ela; c)Wekade-Kukurumahana-Madugahaella Ela and Tittawarakawa- Gorakattawela Ela. In addition it will also improve the water table and the microclimate of the entire region and provide water for the generation of hydro- electricity.
In addition to its irrigation potentials, the Wekade weva will also turn to be a rare tourist attraction as it is expected to reflect the shadow of the giant Lakegala in its waters.
The proposed network of reservoirs and irrigation canals will completely change the geographic landscape of the region.
Agriculture
- Increase the present acreage under paddy. This could be done in two ways; by increasing the existing yala acreage and increasing the total area under paddy with additional water from the proposed new reservoirs.
- Bring Cardamom under better management so that it will not be a danger to environmental destruction (I don’t agree with banning cardamom cultivation as it provides an important source of income for these villagers and also cardamom cultivation has been accepted as the best form of land use for this type of forests.).
- Introduce new cash crops such as pepper, coffee, cinnamon, cotton, citrus, cadju, grapes and mango etc. on a large scale.
- A programme of cultivating medicinal plants like Binkohomba, Nelli, Aralu and Bulu may also be tried out.
- Start a programme of subsidiary food crops like onions, chilies, garlic, turmeric, yams, finger millet, corn, green gram, gram and vegetable like drumsticks, pumpkin, watermelon etc on a large scale. Some of these could be grown both on high lands and also in paddy fields where water is not adequate for paddy in yala.
- Livestock farming. A programme of water buffalo, need cattle, goats and even Sheep raring could be tried under this programme.
- Bee keeping. This could be very successful since there are sufficient forests around this area.
- Fruit cultivation like banana, mango, citrus, papaw, pine apple and grapes etc.
Education
There are three schools here at the moment, Meemure, Kaikawala and Na-Ela (Kumbukgolla). But facilities are depressing. Therefore this has to be taken up as a priority.
Industry
Agro-based cottage industries are recommended. Handicrafts like household items such as rattan and bamboo baskets and read mats etc also could be developed, as the talent needed is available here. Beekeeping is another industry where there is very big potentiality in this area. The cottages in the proposed cultural village (existing) could be used for this.
Environmental conservation
A comprehensive environmental conservation programme should constitute a major component of this development project. All land above 4500 ft; over 60 % gradient, source areas and all other vulnerable areas should be strictly protected.
Urban development
A new town to accommodate this development thrust and cater to the increased socio-economic needs may have to be opened up in a central place where adequate facilities are available. The site proposed for this town is Geduma – a centrally located flat area lying between the two villages of Meemure and Kaikawala. Enough land is available here. Water could be brought from the proposed Heenganga reservoir. Easy access is also available from the main road.
This town will have all the facilities like a Central School, a hospital, post office, bank, VC office, a shopping complex serving both as a collection center and a sales point and other facilities needed for such a town-let. Present Kaikawala health center should be improved at least to a cottage hospital till such time.
Mini-hydro projects
Mini- hydro projects are recommended for all the reservoirs proposed. The projects should be connected to the national grid. They will provide the required power for the local needs both domestic and industrial. There is also a 33 KV HT supply proposed by the CECB via Laggala-Pallegama under ADB assistance which I understand is abandoned at the moment. (CEB Ref. No. ADB3 KUDDB 105:File No: UD 105). It is suggested that this project be re-activated. I also suggest that they change the proposed KV line route and take it on the eastern side of Lakegala. It will not only reduce the distance and cost but also the damage that would have caused to the upper watersheds covered with primary forests.
Prospects of wind power should also be studied, as there is a long spell of windy season from April to October in this region.
Tourism
This is one area where there are enormous potentials. The captivating scenic beauty that is not found in any other region in Sri Lanka could attract thousands of tourists from world over. The fantasy that opens up at the Koratuwe muduna (Corbat’s Gap) coupled with the mesmerizing triangular profile of Lakegala alone will create a tourist boom. Lakegala, a vertical bare rock outcrop measuring over 2500 ft from the ground level is the highest bare rock outcrop I have seen in the world. Its unparalleled exposed height, enormous beauty and the panorama one could witness from its summit are destined to make it a number one tourist attraction in the whole world. Many a foreigners have already described this are as an area with a unique scenic beauty not seen in any other part of the world.
The following cable car services are also recommended.
a) Corbet’s Gap –Dumbanagala and Corbets Gap-Dotalugala
b) Geduma to Meeriyagolla from there to the summit of Lakegala c)From Geduma to Nitre Cave (According to John Davy this is the biggest Nitre cave in Sri Lanka.
Rāvana Asapuwa An aesthetic project at Na Ela
It is proposed that an aesthetic center (A Kala Kendraya) be set up in Na Ela at the foothills of Kosgolla Hills overlooking the panoramic valley of Meemure and Lakegala. This should be called Ravana Asapuwa” in memory of Ravana the Great who, according to legend is supposed to have built his capital Lankapura in the vicinity of Lakegala. It is also suggested that this center be modeled on the line of Santiniketan of Tagore, but of cause with Sri Lankan characteristics. This should be developed as the center for all performing Sri Lankan arts with facilities for research and development. It should also have theatres- both open and indoor and residential facilities. The RB Heenganga road will provide access. There was a similar idea in early 1950 by a group of aesthetic minded people like proctor Meemanapalana but it was later abandoned. They, I understand, bought the land comprising 1000 acres, for this project. The following three people (living) who took part in this mission may also be contacted. Dr.H.S.S. Nissanka, (Kandy). Edwin Ariyadasa and Tissa Devendra (a nephew of Meevanapalana)
Note
When implementing this programme of development precaution should be taken not to destroy the purana village between the historic Mee tree and the proposed Wekade weva. The Unique architectural and sociological characteristics of the buildings, stone fences, Bo-maluwa and the traditional cluster type of houses” that is usually found in an ancient Sinhala village demonstrating its socio-economic and cultural characteristics must be preserved for posterity as a national heritage. These houses could be used as venues of traditional cottage industries. This traditional village could be preserved as the Meemure Under the shadow of Lakegala” like the Shakespeare village by the side of river Avon in England as a tourist attraction displaying the life style of the ancient village. In addition to the items gazetted under the Antiquities Ordinance on 18.6 1999 in No 1085 as protected monuments the following items also should be gazette. Bomaluwa, Katupandure linda, the Meda walawwa site where the two princess o Sri Wickrama Rajasingha stayed, Dambagahaella burial site of the two Princess and the Historic Meegaha at the entrance to the village.
1 The road,
2 The Naranatte-Meemure oya transbasin ela and
3 The Proposed Irrigation cum Hydroelectricity projects
are the three live wires of this whole proposal. This programme of development should definitely open new vistas of prosperity for this area and transform it to an entirely a different landscape beyond our comprehension. The new road network will link up the East with the West by a new road between Kandy, Trinco and Battticaloa and open up an area hitherto secluded from the outside world. With the new economic activities generated, employment opportunities should increase at an unprecedented scale. Thereby the income levels and the standard of life of the local people will go up. As a result the new development thrust should be able to support at least ten times the present population (Present population 1614). This will complete the process of opening up the doors of the 21st century world for this secluded ancient village with new economic, social and educational opportunities will arrest the present trend of serious ru-urban migration that will obliterate these ancient villages from the map of Sri Lanka if left unchecked.
More Reading : Dr Sudath Gunasekara Encyclopedia